O'Hare Noise Information

Dear Resident,

This is the webpage where the Village will share information about the ongoing issue of airport noise. Check back here regularly for updates about the Village's ongoing effort to deal with this difficult issue. This page will also include updates (when available) about the effort to secure more sound-proofing of homes within the Village. Please contact the Village at (847) 678-2550 to ask any questions you may have about this issue or use the Request Tracker portion of this website to submit a question in writing.

As always we encourage residents to use the O'Hare Noise Hotline to report noise complaints so that a documented record exists of the extent of the problem. The number is (800) 435-9569 or you can report your complaint using the online form by clicking here.

The general membership of the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) voted today to approve an Interim Fly Quiet Nighttime Runway Rotation Plan for Chicago O’Hare International Airport (O’Hare). The plan could take effect late in 2018 and remain in place until new Runway 9C-27C is commissioned in 2020 as part of the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP). The ONCC recommendation now moves to the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), who in turn will develop a formal submittal to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for environmental review. The FAA’s review process is anticipated to take up to 12 months.

ONCC formed an ad hoc Fly Quiet Committee in September 2015 as a result of the CDA’s recommendation to modify the existing Fly Quiet Program. Fly Quiet is a voluntary nighttime noise abatement program at O’Hare that is in effect from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The committee’s purpose was to review, modify and make recommendations regarding nighttime noise abatement procedures at O’Hare.

The committee has overseen a series of three runway rotation tests, in order to find the best solution to balance nighttime noise impacts. Test 1, which was in place from July – December 2016, was intended to evaluate a condition that could be in place until Runway 14R-32L (later renamed Runway 15-33) is permanently closed. Test 2 ran from April – July 2017 and its purpose was to test the capabilities of the different configurations after responding to FAA concerns from Test 1, as well as test new configurations that were not included in the original test. Test 3, in effect from July – October 2017, was conducted to test a condition that could be in place from Runway 15-33 decommissioning until Runway 9C-27C commissioning.

The rotation plan approved by the commission today is essentially the same runway rotation plan that was followed in Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test 3. The plan features an eight-week rotation plan with six configurations arranged to alternate each week between parallel and diagonal runways, and rotating east flow and west flow.

“I appreciate the work by all members of the ad hoc Fly Quiet Committee,” said Committee Chair Joe Annunzio, representing the Village of Niles. “It hasn’t been an easy process, but the solution that we reached will hopefully have positive results for those most effected by nighttime noise.”

In her remarks, ONCC Chair Arlene Juracek supported the effort, stating that Option A best met the goals and guidelines outlined by the committee at the start of the runway rotation process—to provide near-term relief; to reduce impacts to the highest impacted communities; and to provide predictability to the nearest extent possible.

Chicago Alderman John Arena, 45th Ward stated, “We sit on this body not only to represent our constituents, but to represent the region as a whole. We cannot allow things to devolve into tribal instincts. The communities to the east and west of the airport have been deluged by noise for decades. The reality is there is no perfect solution. All we are asking is that we approach the situation with a sense of fairness, and shared burden as well as benefit.”
Now that the ONCC has approved the Interim Fly Quiet Rotation, the CDA will work to prepare and submit a request to the FAA so that it can begin its environmental review process as soon as possible.

“The Interim Fly Quiet rotation is a critical part of the CDA’s mission to be a good neighbor and reduce noise exposure for the communities most heavily impacted as O’Hare’s airfield modernization continues,” said CDA Commissioner Ginger S. Evans. “Looking ahead, we will continue partnering with the ONCC and with the FAA to ensure the Interim Fly Quiet rotation provides even greater predictability and quieter conditions for our neighbors.”

“As I have expressed previously, ONCC best serves all members if we adopt a regional approach,” Juracek said. “Considering the factors, I believe adopting an Interim Fly Quiet Plan Option A is the best course of action. I feel this option represents an equitable balance of relief to communities surrounding O’Hare.”

Mayor Juracek thanked the ad hoc Fly Quiet Committee, the CDA and its consultants, SOC and its consultants, FAiR, the FAA and ONCC members “for their time, commitment and suggestions to bring a balanced approach to abate nighttime aircraft noise to the O’Hare region.”

The FAA review will include a public participation process, during which ONCC as well as impacted communities will provide input. The FAA will accept written comments from the public and will host public workshops to share information and answer questions from residents. The FAA's analysis will disclose the impacts of the proposed plan, impacts without the proposed plan and possibly an additional alternative. The FAA will also determine if it can approve the proposal.

CDA staff noted that the rotation plan would be effected by pavement rehabilitation that will take place on Runway 4L-22R in 2019, and similar work on Runway 4R-22L planned for 2020.

ONCC is an inter-governmental agency representing over 2.1 million residents in 40 communities, 19 school districts and Cook and DuPage Counties, and is dedicated to mitigating aircraft noise from Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) consultants presented three runway rotation options to the Committee, which ultimately chose Option A, essentially the same runway rotation plan that was followed in Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test 3.

The goals outlined in the Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Plan Goals and Guidelines included: to provide near-term relief, to reduce impacts to the highest impacted communities, and to provide predictability to the extent possible. One of the strategic guidelines outlined in all three of the Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test Goals and Guidelines was to avoid consecutive community impacts. A motion was made during the meeting to remove the consecutive impact consideration, but this was unanimously voted against.

This meant the only remaining option was Option A, as the other options would have resulted in consecutive community impact. Option A features an 8 week rotation plan with six configurations arranged to alternate each week between parallel and diagonal runways, and also rotating east flow and west flow. Option A estimates operations on parallel runways to be at 74%, with operations on diagonal runways at 26%. These estimates are based on Test 1, 2, and 3 results, and do not take into account future construction/maintenance schedules.

Option B included two parallel runway configurations and one diagonal configuration from Option A, but also incorporated a hybrid model with one parallel and one diagonal runway in each configuration.
Option C was a six week rotation plan with two parallel configurations and one diagonal configuration. Runway usage in both Option B and Option C was estimated at 83% on parallel runways and 17% on diagonal runways. Again, these estimates are based on Test 1, 2, and 3 results, and do not take into account future construction/maintenance schedules.

CDA staff noted that any rotation plan would be impacted by construction scheduled to take place on the diagonal 4/22 Runways. Construction on Runway 4L/22R was initially expected to take place in 2018, but CDA staff stated today that this work would take place in 2019, with construction on 4R/22L planned for 2020.

In addition to Options A, B and C presented by the CDA, the City of Elmhurst presented an additional alternative. The Elmhurst option was similar to Option C that the CDA presented, featuring a six week rotation plan with two parallel and one diagonal configuration.

Suburban O’Hare Commission (SOC) Consultant JDA provided a report to the committee with analysis of Runway Rotation Tests 2 and 3 and recommendations for the Interim Fly Quiet Plan.
JDA recommended Option A as SOC’s preferred option because they believed it achieved the most equitable balance possible until longer runways are commissioned. They stated that Options B, C and the Elmhurst option all shift more operations onto the parallel runways than existed prior to the rotation and therefore defeat the purpose of rotating runways.

The proposal now moves to the full ONCC membership at a special meeting on December 8 at 8:00 am at Café la Cave, 2777 S. Mannheim Road, Des Plaines, IL.

If approved by the full ONCC, the CDA and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will begin environmental analysis. The FAA review process will include public hearings and public comment period.

July 28, 2017

The Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test 3 started the evening of July 23, 2017.

Test 3 will be in place for a period of 12 weeks. Each new week will begin on Sunday evening at 10:00 p.m. or after when demand allows for one arrival and one departure runway.

The purpose of conducting a third test is to test in real time a runway rotation without the use of Runway 15/33 which is slated to be decommissioned in the spring of 2018.

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) submitted the proposed Fly Quiet Rotation Plan to the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") earlier this week. The proposed start date of the program is now July 6, 2016. This is going to be a 25 week test period. The Village had previously reported that the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission ("ONCC") approved a 6-month test for overnight flights from 11:00 PM to 5:30 AM. Air traffic controllers and pilots are to ensure planes arrive and depart on different parallel and diagonal runways during the test period. Ten different configurations labeled “A” through “J” will be used on a one week basis. This began on July 6th and will conclude around Christmas Day 12/25/16. Configurations “D”, “G” and “H" (see the SOC Newsletter below to view these options) look particularly favorable for Schiller Park. These will be in place for the weeks of 7/17, 7/24, 8/7, 9/4, 9/18, 10/9, 10/16, 10/30, 11/27, and 12/11.

Please click on the link below to participate in giving feedback to the CDA on the effectiveness of the Fly Quiet program.

Below is the press release from the ONCC regarding this runway rotation program:

O’Hare Runway Rotation Plan Gets Green Light

Test goes into effect on Wednesday, July 6, 2016

The O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved a six-month test of a Fly Quiet II Runway Rotation Plan to bring nighttime noise relief to residents living near O’Hare International Airport.

The Fly Quiet II Runway Rotation Plan, developed by the ONCC in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), Suburban O’Hare Commission and the Fair Allocation in Runways Coalition, will achieve a more balanced distribution of overnight noise exposure for Chicago and suburban communities.

The test consists of 12 weekly primary and secondary runway configurations that will be rotated over 25 weeks and goes into effect on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. ONCC membership approved the weekly runway rotation plan in May by an overwhelming majority vote.

“I appreciate the CDA’s efforts to mesh the runway rotation schedule with airfield construction, slated for both the north and south airfields this summer,” said ONCC Chair and Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene A. Juracek. “By providing a rotation plan that includes both primary and secondary runway choices for each weekly rotation, we ensure that despite construction the Fly Quiet II Runway Rotation Plan will bring a measurable amount of nighttime noise relief to the most impacted communities,” she said.

For each week, a primary runway operating configuration is designated with an alternate configuration designed to accommodate factors such as wind or construction if needed. Each of the 12 weekly runway designations consists of either two runways (one arrival and one departure runway) or one mixed use runway used for both arrivals and departures.

The rotation schedule along with a survey for residents to provide test program feedback will be posted on www.flychicago.com/flyquiettest for the public to view online along with other pertinent information, such as the start and end time of Fly Quiet II and the average duration of time for each weekly period.

"The ONCC takes the feedback from affected residents very seriously, and will work to address the needs of the communities most impacted by nighttime noise identified during the test period,” said Juracek. “Engaging everyone impacted during the test period is critically important to the ONCC. We are looking forward to reviewing the data and formalizing an interim Fly Quiet program that will best address the region's needs prior to full build out of the O'Hare Modernization Program."

In the end, ONCC will provide a recommendation to the FAA as to whether or not the Interim Fly Quiet II rotation plan should be implemented beyond the six-month test period and until the closure of Runway 14R/32L. The FAA will make the final decision.

April 25, 2016In spring, easterly winds become more prevalent in the Chicago area. This year is no exception as recently, we have begun experiencing an increasing number of days with all or mostly easterly winds. When this occurs, O’Hare is in “East Flow” (Arrivals on 9L, 10C, & 10R; Departures on 9R, & 10L). This with the combination of more activities outdoors in the warmer temperatures is likely to result in additional noise complaints.

For a detailed explanation of easterly winds becoming more prevalent see below explanation from Illinois State Climatologist Dr. Jim Angel:

“The combination of more warm fronts to the south and high pressure to the north, along with the increased incidence of the lake breeze off Lake Michigan, results in a significant rise in the frequency of easterly (southeast, east or northeast) winds during the spring (March, April and May) season. Transitioning from the winter season, March retains much of the "winterlike" cold frontal wind patterns that give a westerly (southwest, west or northwest) flow 49 percent of the time (36 percent is easterly). However, by April, temperatures over the city more often warm into the 50s, 60s and 70s while Lake Michigan waters remain in the upper 30s and lower 40s. This creates a huge temperature differential which in turn initiates the cooling easterly "Lake Breeze" effect. Easterly winds are observed 41 percent of the time in April and 44 percent of the time in May.” (Source: Illinois State Climatologist Dr. Jim Angel)

We don’t completely accept their explanation because there are certainly times when there seems to be no wind at all and our homes still get hammered with take-offs. Therefore we continue to encourage our residents to call the O’Hare Noise Complaint Line at 800-435-9569 or visit www.oharenoise.org and log your complaints on line.